fanslow



B. 0. FANSLOW.

CHECKWRITER.

APPLICATION mtu SEPTK I3. |916.

Patented July 8, 1919.

4 SHtETS-SHEET 2 ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN 0. -FANBLOW. OF RYE, NEW YORK.

CHEOKWBITER.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN O. Faris- Low, a citizen of the United States, residin in Rye, county of Westchester, and State o New York, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Checkwriters, of which the following is a description.

This invention has reference to check proteetng machines and particularly(r to the type of check protecting machines nown as check writers.

My invention includes, among its objects, to provide a simple and effective check Writer which is cheap to produce and which embodies means whereby the check may be fed variably by the coperation of two members which are held in a normal position so as to at all times engage each other when one of the members is shifted for operation;

to provide means whereby a printing Wheel, y

having type-blocks of varying length, may cooperate with a platen normall held in position to engage the same, w ereby to val'iably feed the check during one movement of reciprocation of the printing wheel; to provide means by which the platen may be held normally at all times in position to engage the printlngwheel, and means whereby the latter may engage the platen during one movement and is enabled to avoid the platen in its other movement inreturning to normal position,

With the above objects in view and others which will be detailed durin'gthe course-of this description, my invention consists in the parts, features, elements and combinations thereof hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have lprovided drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a check Writing machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation with the rear plate of the machine broken away to` show details of construction;

Fi 4 is a toplan with the top frame mem r remov e FFig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5'01 ig. 6 is a section on the line 6`6 of Fig. 5;

ig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the machine shown in the preceding figures on Patented July 8, 1919.

Application led September 18, 1916. Serial No. 119,854.

the line 7-7 Fig. 4, and illustrating an inking device for the platen;

Fig. 8 shows a form of my invention which I have found effective and of advantage;

Fig. 9 is a detail showing the means for controlling the presser and stripper of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail showing the form of )laten and cooperating type wheel employe in the machine of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a sectional Vdetail of the platen and coperating type wheel of Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing a smooth roller platencoperating with the type wheel; and i Fig. 13 shows in plan and section on the line 13--13, the view being very much enlarged, the form of the surfaces of the type characters and platen of Figs. 1 to 7 and 11.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the base of the machine which is flanged downwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, and provided with a plurality of feet or support-s 2 which may be of soft material, such as rawhide, rubber, fel't or any other material found suitable for the purpose of preventing friction on the table-top or support and scratching the latter. 3 is the faceplate and Af1 the back-plate of the machine, and 5is the-top frame o`elosure member, the same being set within the face and back plates 3 and 4 and secured thereto by screws 6, which may-have their heads countersunk or partially so in the face and back-plates, respectively of the machine. The facelate is provided wtlna dial of circular erin, generally indica-ted b 7, over which the pointer 8 operates, sai pointer being carried 1n any suitable mannen by the tubular shaft 9, to which the handle 10 is connected and which shaft carries thevprinting wheel generallv indicated by 11. The shaft 9 is provided with any air-hole 9* to revent resistance of air therein. The pointer 8 may be made a part of the boss 12 having a lug 13 thereon adapted to engage the longitudinal groove 14 in the tubular handle 9. A sleeve or hub 15which may be of rubber, hide, o'rl metal, is' set within the face-plate 3 and a flange 16 on the boss 12 is set within a groove of' said hub, thus holding both the boss and tion on the fpointer and the hub in posi- A ace-plate. The hub 15 acts, at its rear end, as a buffer for the face of i., An.

the printing wheel 11,`as clearly shown in Fig. (l. The tubular shaft 9 receives within its bore the ruiding and supporting pin 17 which is held to the back-p ate 4 of the frame by means of its headed end 18 and collar 19, a washer 2O acting as a buffer for the rear end of the hub of the wheel 11 being set to surround the pin 17 and the collar 19. The back-plate 4 is provided with a plurality of openings 21, see Fig, 5, two being shown in this instance of m invention, which are closed b the mova le caps or friction plugs 22. hese openings are for the urpose of removing the inking rolls present y described. The face-plate 3 is )rovided with an inturned flange 23 w ich leaves an openin or slot between the same and the base l o sullicient width to receive the check, a paper-support ,24, and a com bined presser and stripper-plate 25, said slot extending from side to side of the machine, as indicated at 26, Fig. 1. The back-plate is irovided with a similar inturned flange 27 lleaving a similar slot from side to side of the machine for the rece tion of the check, the support 24, the guide-plates 40 and the combined stripper and presser 25. The combined stripper and presser is composed of thin metal of considerable temper and flexibility and is secured to the flange 27 by frictional engagement of 'its rear ed e 28 and a plate 29 riveted to the to of tge stripper 25 and extending from en to end thereof across the machine. The said plate 29 and the stripper embrace the flange 27, and small lugs 30, see Figs. 4 and 7, carried by the plate 29, extend downwardly into apertures 31 in the flange 27, thus maki a loose rocking joint between the fla e 2 andthe stripper. The front edge' ld? the stripper enga es the flange 23 of the frontplate 3 and, y its elasticity of flexure, is normally held in engagement with said flange. Extending longitudinally of the stripper 25 is an upwardly curved or grooved portion`32 adapted to relieve the paper of excessive pressure when placed between the lsaine and the support 24; but, substantially' centrally of the grooved portion 32 the stripper-plate is provided with an aperture 33 through which extends the laten 34. which wi l be presently descri A handle 35 providing a thumb or finger-piece is secured to the stripper-plate and extends through the back-plate 4, or a vertical slot therein; and, the plate 29 is provided with an opstanding and rearwardly curved lug 36 positioned to engage the inner surface of the back-plate which latter operates as a stop against further flcxure of the stripperplate, which may be produced by depressing the handle 35. Thus, the stripper-plate may be so-flexed asV to relieve pressure of its centra]` longitudinal, rooved portion upon the surface of the che(` at the point of coperares ondin tion of the platen 3l therewith, it boing understood that the normal tendency of the plate is to spring upwardly so as to-niake its forward end engage the iuturncd flange 23, and it being also understood that, when the plate is flexed, as just described, its ccntral, grooved portion will be lifted without causing the f ront edge to slide beyond the holding range of the said flange 23. The support 24, at its rear edge extends from the frame of the machine a considerable distance, as shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 7, the cxtension being indicated by 37, in which, or on which, is provided a flange 38 for the engagement of the curved member 39 of each of two angular guides 40, which, by the conneetion shown, are enabled to slide relatively to, and on, the extension of the guideplate. The upstanding portions 41 of the guides enable the thumb Vand finger to slide the same on the support, so as to separate the said guides a distance corresponding with the width of the check, and also to set the said guides on the support in the proper position relatively to the printing ,line or position of the printing-wheel. The guides 540 extend into the machine almost to the platen, which latter operates through an aperture 42 in said support, see Fig. corwith the aperture 33 in the stripper-p ate.

The printing couple consists of the printing-wheel 11 and the platen 34; and, as shown, the printing-wheel is fixed in any suitable manner upon the tubular shaft 9, as by a screw 43 passing through the hub of the wheel and spotted in the tubular shaft 9. On its circumference, the println wheel is provided with a plurality ofequi-distantly spaced type blocks 44, said blocks being of varying lengths corresponding to the various words and characters to be riiited upon the check, said Words being indicated bv the numerals on the dial of F ig. 1. As will be readily understood, the printin wheel 11 is twirled or rotated by the hand e 10 to position any one of the type blocks 44 in printing position or coperative relation to the platen 34. As shown in Figs. 10 to 12 the surface of the ty blocks. and consequently the surface of t e type characters, and the surface of the platen are correspondingly scored with criss-crossed rid es and grooves to provide approximately diamond-shaped points 45 of minute character, and the depth of the openings between the points can be made greater or less, according to the ink-carrying ca acity desired. The platen consists of a ro ler, as shown in Figs, 6, 7, 11 and 12, the surface of which is provided with diamondshaped points, and this roller is made of metal so as to maintain more or less ermanently the diamond-shaped points .or coo eration with the depressions between the diamond points of the type blocks 44. The

platen is provided with oppositely extended Journal-pins 46, which, in this instance of my invention, may be dropped into recesses in upstanding lugs or ears 47 carried by the spring-plate 48, secured b means of laterally extending ears 49 an screws 50 to the bottom of the bed 1, see Figs. 5 and 6. The normal tendency of the said plate 48 is to depress or drop the platen 34 from coperation with the surfaces of the type blocks 44; but, to hold the platen in proper coperation relative to the type blocks, the for- Ward end of the plate 48 is provided with ,an aperture through which the screw 50 extends, and which, at its up er end, is screwthreaded into the bed. spring 51 sur- V rounding the screw 50, and at one end engaging the head thereof, normally tends to press upon the bottom of the plate 48 and lift the platen into the coperative position shown in Fig, 6. As shown in Fig. 6, it will be seen that the surface of the type blocks, when in printing position, is slightly below the highest poiftion of the circumference of the platen, thus enabling the blocks to en age the aper between the same and the p aten a su' stantial distance in advance of the highest portion of said laten surface. This enables a sufficient f movement to be given the paper before the printing actually begins, to provide a space between adjacent; Words the printing taking place when the surface of the printing blocks is in full engagement with the surface of the platen substantially at its highest point. 1t will now be understood that the printing Wheel is given a right-line movement parallel with its axis of roltation for both feeding and printing the paper in coperation with the roller platen; and, it will also be understood that, during the piintin operation, the points 45 of the type blocs and the points on the surface of the platen coperate sov as to perforate the paper in separated spots and to simultaneously crush the surrounding portions of the paper by reason of the pressure imposed upon the aper from opposite sides by the type bloc s and the platen. 'Toavoid excessively crushing the surface of the paper along the printing lines, the'platen is made yielding, as previously described, and the requisite pressure is imposed upon the platen by adjustment of the screw 50a. which regulates the tension of the s ring 51 upon the bottom of the springp ate 48.

In order that the surfe-ce of the paper along the printing line may be inked simultaneously with the feed thereof through the machine and the maceration of the printing line, inking means for the type-blocks are provided, as shown in Fi Ys. 3 to 6, inclusive. Referring to Figs. 4 an 5, it will be seen that levers 52 are pivoted at 53 at their upper ends to the front-plate' of the machine, said levers. at their lower ends, being provided with hooks or apertures 54, for the reception of loops on the opposite ends of a spring 55, the normal tendency of which is to draw the levers together. Above the hooks, each of the levers 52 is provided With a spindle 56 upon which freely slides and rotates an inking roller 57, the latter being held in its foremost position, as shown in Fig 4, by the coiled spring 5S surrounding the spindle 56 and held in position on the latter by means of the iiiturned end 59 of the spring, which frictonally engages the spindle and prevents the spring from sliding thereon Without considerable pressure. By this means, the spring may be adjusted on the spindle, so as to hold the roller thereon in the proper position and to prevent said roller from being j arred or otherwise caused to leave its proper position at the face-plate of the machine.

,ach of thelevers 52 is also provided with a cain 60 adapted to engage one or the other of the pins 61, carried by the printing wheel on its forward end, said pins, in the rotation of the printing wheel, being adapted to simultaneously engage the cams 60 and spread the levers so as to shift the inking rollers from engagement with the surface of the printing wheel against the tension of the spring 55. Each of the levers 52 is also provided with a spring-plate 62 provided on its back With a teat 63, and held upon the lever in proper position by fitting tightly in the groove 64, and by means of the screw 65. The teats 63 are adapted to engage the recesses or grooves 66 in a rim of the printing wheel, when the latter is rorated, to bring the saine into proper position. The normal tendency of the spring-plates 62 is to spring rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, and ride on the collar surface 67 and against the Harige 68. When the printing wheel is drawn forward to the position of Fig. 6` the rim portion 69 of the printing wheel containing the recesses 66 will engage the feats 63 and push the spring-plates 62 forward so as to shift them from the collar surface 6*?, thus permitting the s'pring 55 to operate upon the levers 52 to press the inking rollers against the circumference of the printing Wheel and thus cause the inner ends of the spring-plates 62 to engage the collar surface 70 in front of the collar surface 67. When the printing wheel is rotated to ink the typeblocks and to obtain a return position. the pins 61 will' engage the cams 60 to press the inlnng rollers away from the surface ofthe printing Wheel and the spring-plates will snap into the position shown in Fig. 4 and cause the teats thereof to enter the recesses 66, before the printing Wheel is moved into the position of Fig. 4. This enables the inkingr rollers to be removed from contact with the surface of the printing Wheel before the latter is started inpits right-line movement to shift the same from the front positionof Fig. 6 to the rear position of Fig. 4, in which latter position the printing wheel may be rotated freely to position any desired typeblock in printing position..

The rear end of the printing wheel is provided lwith a plurality of cams 71 oppositely dis osed, as shown in Fig. 3, and t e upper mi dle ortion of each of which cams is provide with a notch 72l1 corresponding with a notch between two type-blocks, it being understood that the type blocks are individual and separated by grooves 72 extending from end to end of the printing wheel. The notch in each cam is adjacent a shallow type block devoid of printing characters, enabling the printing wheel to be shifted from front to rear of the machine without engaging the platen or the paper extended thereover. These blank blocks and the cam apexes are thus related, see Fig. 3, to provide an abrupt stop to the rotation of the printing-wheel in the forward position as a preliminary to the shifting of the printino' wheel to the rear position, the wheel thus being brought to a stop always at a blank which enables the wheel to be shifted. Other cams and blanks may be provided to give more return points for the wheel. The surfaces of the cams 71 are adapted to cooperate with the lower forward end or toe 73 of an enlargement of a lever 74, pivoted at 75 in the ears of the plate 76', at the top of the cover 5 of the frame of the machine, the said plate bein secured to the machineframe by screws 7 A spring 78 is interposed between the lever 7 4 and the supporting-plate 76 to normally press the lever downwardly and hold the same in the position shown in Fig. 6, the downward movement of the lever being limited by the rear end lug 79 which enga es the said supporting-plate Guiding ugs or ears 80 prevent the lever from-having lateral movement and hold it to operate in a fixed lane relatively to the rmting wheel, so t at it will always drop into a notch 72" at the proper time. The rear end of the enlar ed ortion of the lever 74 is provided wit a eel 81 which is higher than the toe 73. Thus, when the printing wheel has been drawn to the forward position shown in Fig. 6, the toe 73 of the lever will drop behind the wheel below the bottom of any one of the grooves 72 and prevent the wheel from being returned to the position of Fig. 4 until one or the other of the cams 71 has lifted the said lever.so that the toe 73 may enter one of the notches 72.

It will now be understood that the printing and feeding is in a right line indicated by the arrow a, Fig. 6, and that, when the printing wheel has reached the position of Fig. 6, the inking rolls will be in engagement with the printing wheel, as shown in Fig. 5, since the spring-plates have been forced forwardly from the position of Fig. 4 to that'of Figs. 5 and 6, by engagement of the portion 69 of the printing wheel with the said plates. TheI spring 55 now holds the inking rolls against the circumference of the printing wheel and the locking lever 74 dropped, under the influence of the spring 78, in position to hold the printing wheel forward and prevent it from bein moved rearwardly without twirling it considerably. The extent to which` the wheel may be twirled is limited only by the position of the cams 71, one or the other of which will engage the toe 73, and lift the latter gradually until the center notch 72 thereof, corresponding to a groove 72, is reached, when the locking lever will drop into the notch of the cam 71 and a portion of the registering groove 72, in the surface of the printing wheel between two adjacent blocks, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. This position is indicated on the dial at the opposite points R R, (return) and, when the pointer reaches either one or the other of said return positions, the locking lever will prevent the rinting wheel from being turned farther. en the locking lever drops into the notch of the cam 71, inward pressure on the handle 10 will en- -able the printing wheel to be shifted from the front to the rear of the machine, and, during such shifting movement, the inking rollers are free of the circumference of the printing wheel, so that no drag or friction between the two is permitted. The shifting of the inking rolls from the circumference of the printing wheel was produced during the rotation of the rinting wheel in its forward position to nd a return slot, the shiftin'gbeing caused byengagement of the op; -pesite pins 61 with the opposite cams 60 of the levers 52, which separated the inking rolls from the printing wheel and enabled the spring-plates 62 to snap into engage ment with the collar surface 67 and the teats 63 to enter the opposite grooves 66 in the extended portion 69 of the printing wheel. The printing wheel having been moved rearwardly, or in the direction of the arrow b, Fig. 6, to the position of Fig. 4, in which position the enlarged end of the locking lever 74 will have had its heel end pass entirely through the groove between two type-blocks 44, the locking lever, under the impulse of the spring 78, will now drop downwardly in front of the printing wheel, thus enabling, the latter to be rotated or twirled by the handle 10 to any extent de- "los sii-ed to set any one of the type blocks-in made to register with the head of the locking lever, as willbe readily understood, the raised heel 81 of the lever offering no obstruction to the movement of the printing wheel, and the latter in consequence being capable of being moved forward readily and without any impediment. As the prlntlng wheel reaches the forward position of Fig. 6, the portion 69 thereof will engage the teats 63 of the spring-plates 62, thus shifting the latter from the collar portion 67 and enabling the spring 55 to draw the inking rollers into engagement with the printing wheel. Any portion of the check can be written upon by properly shifting the guides and the paper can be readily slid into the machine over the guides 40 by depressing the finger-piece 35 and bowing or lifting the stripper and presser-plate along the groove 32 from ooperation with the platen 34. When the paper has been entered sufliciently in the machine,-and it may be slid forward until its front edge is seen at the front of the machine through the slot 26,-the linger-piece 35 will be released, whereupon the paper will be lirrnly` ressed by the stripper and presser-plate a out the circumference of the roller platen 34 and will be held from ordinary jars or accidental movement of the machine.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the primary characteristic of my machine is that the printing wheel is confined to rotate upon or with its axis and to rightline reciprocations from front to rear of the machine; and that the rinting and feeding operations take place uring one movement of the right-line reciprocations, while the type-setting operation is the result of,the twirling or rotary movement given to theV printing wheel in` its rear position. Neither. the platen nor the printing wheel is given a movement at a right-angle to its axis. The

printing results fromthe inking of the printing wheel, and the contact of the platen 1n engagement with the printing wheel.

f In ig. 7 I have shown a means by which the roller platen 34 is inked by an inking device 82 in the form of a roller journaled in the ears 83 of a spring support 84 having the teat or bend 85 to aid in giving resiliency, the said support being secured at its rear end by the screws 50, which secures the platen support 48 in position. In this form of my invention, the platen support is bowed downwardly more than that shown in Fig. 6, and the upstanding ears 47 are, in consequence, slightly/longer, The end of the support 48 is also offset as at 86, and the -spring 51 engages the same and the head of the screw 50'* 1n the same manner as described with reference to Fig. 6. The platen 34 has its journals 46 retained in the upper end of the ears 47 at the end of the open end slots 87 by means of the inking roller 82,

which is so located as to bear with li ht pressure and ieldingly upon the circum erence of the p aten below and in rear of the journal of the latter. Obviously, any ad- ]ustment of the platen support 48, through the medium of the screw 50 and spring 51, will carry with it the inking roller support 84. In this View the operation of the parts will be readily understood with reference to the mode in which the presser and stripper engage the paper as it passes over the support 24 of the iding means; that is to say, support 24, at its longitudinal center, is provided with the ridge 88 which coperates with the bowed portion 32 of the strippen plate 25. Both these members, as before noted, have the platen 34 projecting through their central apertures 42 and 33, respectively, and cooperate to bend the paper slightly over the periphery of the laten and at the same time impose just su cient friction upon the paper along the ridge 88 and groove 32 to prevent the same from moving freely, thus avoiding overthrow in the feeding of the paper through the machine when the printing wheel is given its right-line movement in the direction of the arrow a, Fig. 6.

A form of machine which I have found effective is shown in Fig. 8, wherein the top frame member is indicated by 89, the faceplate by 90, back-plate by 91, the handle by 92, fpointer by 93 and the wheel carrying sha t by 94, the wheel 95 being secured thereto by the spot-screw 96, so that manipulation of the shaft by the handle 92 will cause the printing Wheel to be rotated and also reciprocated in a right-line. The type blocks 97 are disposed about the circumference of the printing wheel in manner similar to that of Figs. 5 and 6; but, tl'e printing wheel in this form is provided with the rear barrel extension 98, in which is formed a series of grooves 99 deeper at the front end than at the rear end, said grooves being formed by cutting down the wheel or applying thereto a plurality of blocks. The catch lever 100 provided with an angular head 101 and pivoted at 102 to a supporting bracket 103, secured to the top frame member 89, c ooperates with the blocks and the grooves therebetween to either prevent or permit the reciprocation of the printing wheel. The back-plate 91 of the machine supports the tubular bearing 104 by means of the flange 105 secured to the back-plate by a plurality of screwsr 106, said bearing receivin the izo rear end of the sh'aft'94' ,and being encircled a fiat plate 107 with a forward inclined portion 107 and is supported upon the bar 108 journaled in opposite sides of the machine as suggested in Fig. 9, and normally caused to turn so as to depress the stripper plate upon the bedplate l, over which the paper passes to the printing wheel, by the coiled spring 109 surrounding said shaft 108, and connected thereto at one end and to the 10 frame at the other. The spring 109 gives proper tension to the stripper-plate. The handle 110 enables the stripper-plate to be lifted by turning the shaft 108 against its spring control. The bushing or bearing 111 for the shaft 94 may be in all material re- -spects substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 6 and the front-plate of the machine is provided with a dial having the proper indicia corresponding to the characters on the type bars 97.

In this form of my invention, the base 1 of the machine has a pocket or depression at 112 in which a stationary metal platen 113 is set by means of screws 114, the surfaces of the platen and type blocks being provided with parallel ridges and grooves extending lengthwise of the platen and of said characters, and parallel with the axis of the printing wheel. This form of platen and 80 printing characters is shown in Fig. 10.

The stripper plate 107 is provided with a transverse slot 107x long and wide enough to permit the passage of any of the typeblocks on the rinting Wheel and receive the' 35,. platen 113. .this means the aper 1s pressed upon t e platen and hel thereto with sufficient friction to enable the typeblocks to perform their functions of feeding and printing and, in combination with said 40 platen, slitting, cutting or macerating the paper. The face-plate and backlate of the machine are each provided Wit a slot 115 extending from side to side of the machine just above the base to provide an inlet and outlet for the paper, to enter the latter into the machine and feed the same through the machine. The rear portion of the base of themachine is provided with an extension 116 upon which the guides Similar to 40-41 are secured and are slidable, as by the means 39 similar to that shown inFig. 6.

The operation of this form of my invention' is that by twirlng the handle 92, shaft 94, and printing wheel 97, the type blocks may be set, according to the dial and pointer, in position to coperate with the platen, and this either before or after the paper has been inserted in the machine. Inasmuch as the grooves 99 are deeper adjacent the printing blocks of the printing wheel, the catch 101 will slide thereinto when the printin Wheel is drawn forward to print and fee the check; and the slots in which the catch 101 o erates are suflill eiently short to enable sai catch to emerge from the rear end of said slots when the printing characters have performed their functions of feeding and printing. The catch 101, therefore, drops from the bottom of a groove onto the periphery of the end of the barrel and the Wheel can not be returned to the position of Fig. 4 until a neutral or return slot has been caused to register with the catch, permitting it to pass into one of the grooves, such return groove being deep enough to permit the entrance of the latch end 101 for the return movement of the printin wheel. Viewing Fig.

8, it wili be seen t at the highest portion of the platen 113 is above the lowest por- 80 tion of the type block in coperative relation thereto. The result of this arrangement is that, when the printing wheel is moved in the direction of the arrow c, for printing and feeding the paper, the feed of the latter will take lace slightly in advance of the printing andJ before the highest portion of the platen cooperates with the lowest portion of the type block coperating with it. Thus the initial feed for sparing is pro- 9o duced, as has been described with reference to the roller platen of Fig. 6. Since the ridges and rooves 117 in the type characters and p aten are parallel with the shaft 94, Figs. 8 and 10, the paper will be crimped 95 or cut lengthwise of the word or character printed, and, owing to the pressure between the printing and feeding couple, the fiber of the paper will be macerated and the ink applied to the surface of the rinting characters will be thoroughly7 embedded in the maeerated paper' along the entire length of the word printed.

In the details of Figs. 11, 12 and 13, I have shown different forms of roller platen andoperatin type characters. In Fig.

11; the roller p aten is the one shown at 34, Fig. 6, is made of metal and its entire cir cumferenee is milled, scored or grooved in criss-cross manner, so as to roduce the diamond-shaped projections 11% shown in Fig.

13. In Fig. 12, however, the roller platen 118 is made of hard rubber, raw-hide, or other composition or with a comparatively soft and yielding surface of said materials. In both instances of the roller platens; the coperating faces'on the type blocks of the printing wheel are grooved and scored to produce the diamond-shaped points shown in Fig. 13. It has been found in practice 120 that this form of surface for the printing couple is very effective, produces a plurality of almost indiscernible punctures in the paper and crushes the paper around and about the said punctures; and this crushing action can be regulated by adjusting the pressure of the platen against the surfaces of the printing blocks, as has been described. handle 119 may be used to hold the mac ine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a check protecting machine, in combination, a printing Wheel mounted to rotate axially and reciprocate in a right-line parallel toits axis; means by which said movements may be given the wheel; a platen mounted to aid the wheel in feeding the paper; means for holding the platen at all times in position to engage the printing surfaces of the wheel durmg a' movement of its reciprocation; and means enabling the Wheel to be given its othei` movement of reciprocation without engaging the platen.

In a check protecting machine, in combination, 'a printing wheel mounted to rotate axially and reciprocate in a right-line parallel to its axis; means by which said movements may be given the wheel; a laten mounted to aid the wheel in feeding the paper; means for yieldngly holding the platen at all times with a portion of its surface in the plane of operation of the printing 26 surface of the wheel during a movement of its reciprocation; and means enabling the wheel to be given its other movement of reciprocation without engaging the platen.

3. In a check protecting machine, in com- 80 bination, a printingwheel mounted to rotate axially and reciprocate in a right-line parallel to its axis; a single means by which said movements may be iven the Wheel; a platen mounted to aid t e wheel in print- $5 ing the paper; means for holding the platen at all times with a ortion of its surface in the plane of operation of -the printing surface of the wheel during a movement of its reciprocation; and means enabling the wheel to be given its other movement of reciprocation without engaging the platen.

4. In a check protecting machine, in 09mbination, a printing wheel mountedto rotate axially and reciprocate in a right-line parallel to its axis; means by which said movements may be given the wheel; a rotary platen mounted to aid the wheel in printing and feeding the paper; means for holding the platen at all times with a portion of its 5u surface in the plane of o eration of the printing surface of the whee during a movement of its' reciprocation; and means enabling the wheel to be given its other movement of reciprocation without engaging the platen.

5. In a check protecting machine, in combination, a printing wheel having on its circumference a plurality of type-blocks of varying length, said wheel bein mounted to rotate and to reciprocate para lel with its axis; and a platen m'ounted in advance of the wheel, to coperate with the type-blocks thereon, and With a portion of its surface alwa s in the plane of operation of said whee whereby, during a. movement of rcciprocation ofthe wheel, the paper ma be fed between the platen and a type-bloc a distance slightly greater than the length ot said type-block.

6. In a check protecting machine, in combination, a rinting wheel having a plurality of typelocks of varying lengths, and mounted to rotate and to reciprocate in a right-line parallel with its axis; and a roller platen mounted relatively to the printingwheel in advance of the latter, with a portion of its surface always in the plane of operation of said wheel, so as to give to the paper a feeding movement slightly in excess of the length of the type-block coperating 30 with it..

7 In a check protecting machine, a rotary printing wheel mounted so as to reciprocate in right-lines parallel with its axis; inking mechanism cooperating with the printingg5 wheel; and means whereby the inking mechanism will be moved from engagement with the printing-Wheel during the reciprocati movements of the latter.

8. n a check protecting machine, in combination, a rotary printing-wheel, mounted to reciprocate in right-line between the back and front of the machine; inkin mechanism normally coperating with t e printing-wheel at one extreme of its movement; and means whereby the inking means will be removed from engagement with the printing-wheel during its reciprocating movements. Y

9. In a check protecting machine, in combination, a rotary printing wheel, mounted to have right-line reciprocations parallel with its axis; a platen mounted to be at all times in coperative relation to the printing surfaces of the wheel; and means whereby, during one movement of reciprocation, the printing wheel will coperate with the platen to feed the paper from back to front of the machine.

10. In a check protectin machine, in combination, a printing-whee mounted to rotate and to have right-line reciprocations; means for locking the printing-wheel from right-line movement at one extreme of its reciprocation, and permitting the right-line movement o the wheel from its other extreme of reciprocation.

11. In a check protecting machine, in combination, a printing-Wheel mounted to rotate and to reciprocate parallel with its axis; and means for automatically locking the wheel from right-line movement at one extreme of the latter and permitting it to move from the other extreme of its right-line movement.

1Q. In a check protecting machine, in combination, a printing wheel mounted to rotate and to have right-line reciprocations parallel with its axis; means enabling the wheel to be rotated only at its two extremes of right- 13o line movements; and means to lock the rintingwheel at one extreme of its rightine movements.

13. In a check protecting machine, in comi bination, a printing wheel mounted to rotate and to reciprocate in.rightlines to feed the check; a platen for cooperating with the printing-wheel; a paper support coperating with the laten; astripper also co erating with the pllaten and means whereby t e paper to be printed is yieldingly held by the support and stripper, bent over the surface of the platen in position to be engaged and fed by the printing-wheel, during one of its right-line movements.

14. In a check protecting machine, a printing wheel, provided with type-blocks of varying length, mounted to rotate and to reciprocate between the back and front of the machine; a platen and means for holding the same at all times in position to engage the printing surfaces of the wheel during a movement of reciprocation of the latter; the mounting of the platen being i'nidway between the two extremes of reciprocation of the wheel and with a portion of its surface normally inadvance of the` wheel when the latter 1s 1n its rearmost position. whereby the paper may be fed variably during printing operations.

15. In a check protecting machine, a printing wheel, provided with type-blocks of varying length, mounted to rotate and to reciprocate between the back and front of the machine; a platen and means for yieldingly mounting the same so as to be atall times in position to engage the printing surfaces of the wheel during a movement of reciprocation of the latter; the mounting of the platen being midway between the two extremes of reciprocation of the wheel and with a portion of its surface normally in advance of the wheel when the latter is in its rearmost position, whereby the paper may be fed variably during the printing operation.

16. In a check protecting machine, a printing wheel, provided with type-blocks of varying length, mounted to rotate and reciprocate between the back and front of the machine; a rotary platen and means for holding the same at all times in position to engage the printing surfaces of the wheel during a movement of reciprocation of the latter; the mounting of the platen being midway between the two extremes of reciprocation of the wheel and with a portion of its surface normally in advance of the wheel when the latter 1s in its rearmost position, whereby the paper may be variably during the printing operation.

17. In a check protecting machine, a support for the check over Which it may e fed; a platen and means for holding the same so as to at ail times project through fed the support; a printing wheel, provided with type-blocks of varying length, journaled to rotate above said support and to move over and in engagement with said platen; and means whereby the wheel may be moved from one side to the other of the platen in engagement with the latter to print and variably feed the check according to the character printed.

A18. In a check protecting machine, a su port for the check over which it may e fed; a rotary platen and means for mounting the same in the support so that it shall at 'all times project through the latter; a rinting wheel, provided with type-bloc s of varying length, journaled to rotate above said support and to move over and in engagement with said platen; and means whereby the wheel may be moved from one side to the other of the platen in engagement with the latter to print and variably feed the check according to the character printed.

19. In a check protecting machine, a su port for the check over which it may e fed; a platen and means for yieldingly mounting the same in the support so that it Will at all times project through the latter; a printing wheel, provided with type-blocks of vaiving length, journaled to rotate above said support and to move over and in engagement with the said platen; and means whereby the wheel may be moved from one side to the other of the said platen in engagement with the latter to print and variably feed the check according to the character printed.

E20. In a check protecting machine, a su port for the check over which it may Ee fed; a platen and means for mounting the same in the support so that it will at all times project through the latter; a printing wheel,Q provided with type-blocks of varying length, journaled to rotate above said support and to move over and in enga ement with said platen; and means Where y the wheel may be moved from one side to the other of said platen in engagement with the latter to feed the check. a distance greater than the length of the character printed.

21. In a check protecting machine, a printing Wheel having characters of different length on its periphery; means for mounting said wheel so that it may be rotated and reciprocatd; a platen and means 22. In a check protecting machine, a printing wheel having characters of different length on its periphery; means for mounting said Wheel so that it may be rotated and reciprocated; a platen and means for mounting the same between the front and back of the machine and in position so that it will at all times project in the path of reciprocation of the Wheel; and means whereby the wheel may be rotated and moved from one side to the other of said platen and thereby caused to feed the check over the platen variably according to the length of the character in printing position plus a spacing distance.

23. In a check protecting machine, a printing Wheel; means for rotating and reciprocating said Wheel; a platen mounted to coperate with the Wheel; inking means mounted to coperate with the printing Wheel; means for holding the inking means in contact with the wheel during rotary movements 'of the latter and for removing the same from contact with the wheel during its reciprocating movements.

24. In a check protecting machine, a printing Wheel; means for rotating and reciprocating said wheel; a laten mounted to cooperate with the whee inking means mounted on opposite sides of the printing wheel; means for holding the inking means in contact with the wheel during rotary movements of the latter and for removing the same from contact with the Wheel during its reciprocating movements.

25. In a printing machine, means for printing and feeding a'check, including a printing wheel and a platen; a support for the platen; and means for inking the platen and for holding the same in its support.

26. In a check printing machine, a frame having a check support projecting from the back thereof and extending through the machine and projecting from the front thereof; an adjustable gage on said support at the back of the machine; and a presser and stripper cooperating With said support and extending from the back to the front of the machine for holding the check upon the sup ort.

2 A check protecting machine comprising a frame having a guideway therethrough for the passage of a check; a dial on the front of the frame; a shaft mounted in the frame above the guideway and carrying' a printing wheel; means permitting the wheel to be rotated and reciprocated on the shaft; a pointer at the front end of the shaft mounted to rotate with the Wheel and cooperate With the dial, whereby to place in printing position the desired printing character.

BENJAMIN o. FANsLoW. 

